Minato Namikaze's gaze wavered.
The things Jin Uchiha had said before were finally more than speculation now that Hiruzen Sarutobi had spoken them himself today.
If even a student of his, a member of the Hokage's inner circle, could be so casually abandoned, what about the other ordinary ninja?
Minato did not dare follow that thought any further.
This became the final weight pressing on his heart, and it made him truly resolve to change.
Kushina Uzumaki stared at him blankly, her flaring red hair slowly settling down. When she looked at Minato again, she could barely hide the pain in her eyes.
"Minato, I understand."
She asked no further questions and turned to start making arrangements.
"Go sit on the couch. I'll make you some hangover soup."
"Kakashi, Obito, come help Teacher."
"Rin, come to the kitchen with me!"
That was how Kushina had always been. She might not have been good at offering sentimental words of comfort, but her concern for Minato was entirely genuine.
As soon as she finished speaking, Obito and Kakashi ran over and supported Teacher, one on either side.
Rin Nohara stole a glance at Minato, then hurried into the kitchen to help Kushina prepare the hangover soup.
"Isn't this a little much...?"
Held up by his two students, Minato Namikaze could only smile helplessly. "I'm not even drunk."
No one paid him any mind.
Kakashi and Obito firmly sat him down on the couch, and Obito immediately ran off to pour him some water. Only after handing Minato the cup did he finally ask, "Sensei, is Rin's situation really that difficult?"
"Obito, give Sensei a moment to recover," Kakashi immediately interrupted. "Don't press him right now."
Kakashi knew very well that Minato's eyes and his earlier behavior had already revealed a great deal.